Quantitative M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography in calves

A standardised echocardiographic protocol was applied to 18 healthy calves for the estimation of 51 anatomical and functional cardiac variables. These variables were measured in a long axis and a short axis view of the heart, and both two-dimensional and cursor-directed time-motion (M-) modes were used. The repeatability of each of the measurements was estimated by comparing values obtained twice within 24 hours, and most of the 51 variables showed a high degree of repeatability. Statistical analysis revealed a close correlation between cardiac measurements taken post mortem and by in vivo echocardiography, and between the echocardiographic values obtained in different scanning planes of the heart or ultrasonic modes, indicating that quantitative echocardiography is a reliable technique in calves.     

Changes in linear dimensions of the heart, relative to body weight, as measured by M-mode echocardiography in growing dogs.

The growth of the heart, relative to body weight, was measured by M-mode echocardiography in dogs during the first year of life. Echocardiographic measurements were obtained from 16 English Pointers at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of age and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Left atrial (LA), aortic (AO), left and right ventricular internal dimensions, interventricular septal and left ventricular wall thickness measurements increased in curvilinear fashion relative to increasing body weight. Least-squares regression analysis, performed on logarithmically transformed data, was used to develop power-law equations describing the relationship of echocardiographic measurements to body weight. Linear dimensions of the LA, AO, left and right ventricular internal dimensions and interventricular septal and left ventricular wall thickness changed proportionally to slightly differing exponential powers of body weight (BW), varying from 0.31 to 0.45 (BW0.31 to BW0.45). Fractional shortening and the LA to AO ratio decreased slightly, but significantly, as body weight increased. Indexing echocardiographic measurements to BW1/3 was more appropriate than indexing such measures linearly to body weight, offering a practical method for developing accurate normative graphs or tables for M-mode echocardiographic dimensions in growing dogs.     

Use of M-mode echocardiography in the diagnosis of congestive cardiomyopathy in Doberman pinschers

M-mode echocardiography performed on 3 groups of Doberman Pinschers--healthy, early cardiomyopathy, and advanced cardiomyopathy (pulmonary edema present). Echocardiographic measurements in those dogs with advanced cardiomyopathy were typical of the disease in human beings and other breeds of dogs. Significant differences were detected between dogs with early cardiomyopathy and those with advanced disease. The E-point septal separation was determined to be the most sensitive and specific criterion for the recognition of early cardiomyopathy.     

Standardised imaging technique for guided M-mode and Doppler echocardiography in the horse.

Eighteen echocardiographic images useful for diagnostic imaging, M-mode echocardiography, and Doppler echocardiography of the equine heart were standardised by relating the position of the axial beam to various intracardiac landmarks. The transducer orientation required for each image was recorded in 14 adult horses by describing the degree of sector rotation and the orientation of the axial beam relative to the thorax. Repeatable images could be obtained within narrow limits of angulation and rotation for 14 of the 18 standardised images evaluated. Twenty-seven National Hunt horses were subsequently examined using this standardised technique. Selected cardiac dimensions were measured from two-dimensional and guided M-mode studies. Satisfactory results were achieved in 26 of the 27 horses. There was no linear correlation between any of the measured cardiac values and bodyweight. There was no significant difference between measurements taken from the left and the right hemithorax. Six horses were imaged on three consecutive days to assess the repeatability of the measurements. No significant difference was found between measurements obtained on different days. This study demonstrates a method for standardised echocardiographic evaluation of the equine heart that is repeatable, valuable for teaching techniques of equine echocardiography, applicable for diagnostic imaging and quantification of cardiac size, and useful for the evaluation of blood-flow patterns by Doppler ultrasound.     

B-mode and M-mode echocardiography of endurance horses raised in São Paulo State, Brazil

This study aimed to evaluate cardiac dimensions and indexes of cardiac function in endurance horses using bidimensional- (B-) mode and guided unidimensional- (M-) mode echocardiography. Thirty-five Arabian and crossbred Arabian male and female horses, aged 5 to 18 years old, with an average weight of 415.51 ± 36.76 kg and at least 1 year of endurance training and competition experience, were used. The following values were obtained for B-mode echocardiography in the right parasternal window (see “Materials and Methods” for expanded terms): RVIDd 2.54 ± 0.56 cm; RVIDs 2.08 ± 0.68 cm; IVSd 2.60 ± 0.31 cm; IVSs 3.90 ± 0.44 cm; LVIDd 10.07 ± 0.85 cm; LVIDs 6.65 ± 0.92 cm; LVFWd 2.50 ± 0.30 cm; LVFWs 3.74 ± 0.35 cm; Aod 7.86 ± 0.72 cm; LAs 10.84 ± 0.93 cm; Vd 578.40 ± 108 cm³; Vs 232.68 ± 70.61 cm³; FS% 34.99% ± 8.02%; EF% 60.13% ± 8.29%; E-point 2.25 ± 0.49 cm; and LAs:Aod 1.38 ± 0.16 cm. Using guided M-mode, the following values were obtained: RVIDd 2.04 ± 0.55 cm; RVIDs 1.61 ± 0.71 cm; IVSd 2.68 ± 0.29 cm; IVSs 4.17 ± 0.42 cm; LVIDd 9.72 ± 0.72 cm; LVIDs 5.94 ± 0.96 cm; LVFWd 2.69 ± 0.32 cm; LVFWs 4.23 ± 0.69 cm; Aod 7.21 ± 0.75 cm; Vd 534.24 ± 87.53 cm³; Vs 181.75 ± 67.69 cm³; FS% 39.06% ± 7.66%; EF% 66.38% ± 9.41%; and E-point 1.96 ± 0.58 cm.

Introduction

In equine sports medicine, it is important to evaluate the cardiovascular condition of the athlete. More recently, echocardiography has been used for this purpose.Echocardiography is an invaluable diagnostic aid, since it is non-invasive and easy to perform,[1, 2 and 3] while offering a dynamic and functional evaluation of the heart. [2, 3, 4 and 5].Initially, studies on the M-mode were made, including measurements of normal cardiac dimensions in horses[6 and 7] and foals and for the diagnosis of several cardiac diseases. [1] With the introduction of the B-mode technique in the mid-1980s and its validation, a more detailed anatomic evaluation was possible, [2, 8 and 9] thus allowing the observation of cardiac abnormalities. [10]Though echocardiographic examination could be used to predict the athletic condition of individuals,[11] this is possible only if normal echocardiographic reference values are established. As different breeds have different biotypes and develop different aptitudes, it is necessary to provide enough information for each type of work or breed. Research includes data for the Thoroughbred racehorse [3, 12 and 13] and Standardbred trotter, [14 and 15] which perform essentially anaerobic work.The endurance race is a modality that is growing significantly in Brazil, both in number of participants and in quality and training of the animals. The endurance horse demands a physical conditioning that differs from that required for racehorses, especially owing to the development of aerobic work. In addition, the animals are mainly Arabian or Arabian crossbred, which have a particular biotype. Because of these facts, and the lack of data about the echocardiographic behavior of endurance horses, this study aimed to determine the dimensions and indexes of cardiac function for horses with endurance training using B-mode and guided M-mode echocardiography.

Materials and methods

Thirty-five clinically normal endurance Arabian and Arabian crossbred male and female horses between 5 and 18 years old, with an average weight of 415.51 ± 36.76 kg, were included in the study. All animals had at least 1 year of training and experience in competitions and were kept under similar hygienic, sanitary, and nutritional management. Training consisted of trail rides, alternating walking, trotting, and galloping, from 20 to 40 km per day, 3 to 4 times per week.The echocardiographic examination was performed with a Sonosite model 180 Plus v. 1.9 echocardiograph, using a 2-4–MHz electronic microconvex transducer with a maximal depth of 24 cm.The animals were prepared as previously reported,[4, 16 and 17] the hair being coated with large amounts of acoustic coupling gel. During the examination, the animals were at rest, calm, and physically restrained only by the halter, in a quiet and dark room.The following echocardiographic measurements, in B-mode as well as guided M-mode, were performed: the left atrium internal diameter in systole (LAs), only in B-mode, in the long axis view, dorsal to the annulus[15]; the right ventricle internal diameter, in diastole (RVIDd) and in systole (RVIDs); the interventricular septum thickness, in diastole (IVSd) and in systole (IVSs); the left ventricle internal diameter, in diastole (LVIDd) and in systole (LVIDs); and the left ventricle free wall thickness, in diastole (LVFWd) and in systole (LVFWs), from the left ventricle short axis view at the chordal level; and the aortic root internal diameter (Aod), from the aortic valve short axis view. The B-mode measurements were taken according to Patteson et al, [12] and the M-mode measurements were based on Long et al. [18]Images were obtained from the right hemithorax. The position used for the transducer to obtain the standardized images for B-mode and guided M-mode were determined and used as described in Reef.[4 and 17]The echocardiographic examination began using the B-mode echocardiography, with the establishment of the tomographic planes, evaluating morphology of the cardiac structures and their movement in a global manner.The first image obtained was the right parasternal long axis view, with the observation of the ventricle inlets, atrioventricular valves, and both atria. With the transducer positioned to optimize visualization of the left atrium, usually with a minimal dorsal angulation, the LAs measurement was made, immediately before the opening of the mitral valve (Fig 1).     

Within-day and between-day variability of transthoracic anatomic M-mode echocardiography in the awake bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

The use of transthoracic echocardiography in dolphins has been limited so far owing to technical and anatomical specificities. Anatomic M-mode (AMM) is a postprocessing echocardiographic technique generating M-mode studies from two-dimensional (2D) cineloops independently of the ultrasound beam orientation. The aim of the present study was to determine the within-day (repeatability) and between-day (reproducibility) variability of AMM echocardiography in awake healthy bottlenose dolphins (BN, Tursiops truncatus). Four adult BN trained to lie in left recumbency at the water surface were involved in the protocol. A total of 96 echocardiographic examinations were performed on 4 different days by a trained observer examining each BN 6 times per day. Video clips of 2D left parasternal long-axis views showing the left ventricle (LV) ventrally and the aortic root dorsally were recorded at each examination and analyzed for AMM measurements in a random order. A general linear model was used to determine the within-day and between-day coefficients of variation (CV). All examinations were interpretable allowing calculation of 10 AMM variables (i.e., end-diastolic and end-systolic ventral and dorsal LV myocardial wall thicknesses as well as LV and aortic diameters, mean aortic diameter, and LV shortening fraction). Most within- and between-day CV values (18/20) were <15%, the lowest being observed for the end-diastolic LV diameter (1.6%). In conclusion, AMM provides a simple non-invasive evaluation of heart morphology and function in the awake BN with good repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements. Further studies are required to determine the corresponding reference intervals.     

M-mode echocardiographic values in sheep

M-mode echocardiograms were recorded from 21 adult sheep (20 ewes, 1 whether). Fifteen echocardiographic measurements were taken and compared with body weights or heart rates, using linear regression equations. Significant correlations (P less than 0.05) were found when body weight was compared with left ventricular internal dimensions in systole (Yo = 0.187 Xo + 18.60, P less than 0.05) and diastole (Yo = 0.346 Xo + 26.69, P less than 0.02), septal thickness in systole (Yo = 0.0876 Xo + 7.64, P less than 0.05) and diastole (Yo = 0.0673 Xo + 4.45, P less than 0.05), aortic root dimension (Yo = 0.129 Xo + 23.40, P less than 0.05), and left atrial dimension (Yo = 0.194 Xo + 15.95, P less than 0.005). Heart rate was significantly correlated (P less than 0.05) with body weight (Yo = -0.245 X 96.71, P less than 0.05), ejection time (Yo = -0.0013 Xo + 0.376, P less than 0.001), velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (Yo = 0.0061 Xo + 0.928, P less than 0.05), mean velocity of mitral valve middiastolic closure (Yo = -0.184 Xo + 1.65, P less than 0.02), and left atrial dimension (Yo = -0.109 + 40.55, P less than 0.005). Fractional shortening of the left ventricle was (mean) 37.2 +/- 5.7% and the left atrial to aortic root ratio was (mean) 0.92 +/- 0.10.     

不同程度奶牛乳腺炎乳中碱性磷酸酶酸性磷酸酶的变化

奶牛乳腺炎是造成奶牛业经济损失最大的疾病之一,特别是奶牛隐性乳腺炎,发病时乳汁无肉眼可见变化,奶牛机体也无任何临床症状,往往被人们忽视,贻误最佳诊断时机,造成更大的经济损失.因此,如何对奶牛乳腺炎做出早期诊断已倍受人们关注.目前国内主要通过测定乳中体细胞数(SCC)对奶牛乳腺炎进行诊断,但由于需要专业的操作人员,以及昂贵的费用等局限性影响了该方法在临床中的推广.本试验通过研究不同程度乳腺炎乳中碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,ALP)、酸性磷酸酶(acid phosphatase,ACP)的活性变化,探讨奶牛发生乳腺炎时,乳中ALP、ACP的活性变化是否与乳腺炎发病程度存在一定联系,为判定乳腺损伤提供重要理论依据.     

Evaluation of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measured by two-dimensional echocardiography in healthy dogs: repeatability,reference intervals,and comparison with M-mode assessment

Introduction

We sought to determine the feasibility, measurement variability, and within-day repeatability of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) measured by two-dimensional echocardiography (2D TAPSE), generate reference intervals for 2D TAPSE, assess agreement and correlation between 2D TAPSE and the conventional TAPSE measured by M-mode echocardiography (MM TAPSE), and to assess the ability of 2D TAPSE to track a drug-induced decrease in right ventricular (RV) function compared with MM TAPSE.

牛二维与M型超声心动图研究

应用ＳＣ－４００型超声扫描仪对２０头牛（黄牛１０头、水牛６头、乳牛犊４头）的超声心科反复试验，结果表明可显示出牛的左心室壁、左心室腔、室中隔、右心室腔、右心室壁、右心房、主动脉根、肺动脉、二尖瓣、三尖瓣及肺动脉瓣等心内结构的形态和运动功能。Ｍ型和二维超声心动图２种方法所测得的左心结构数据相关非常显著（Ｐ〈０．０１）；重复试验结果显示，Ｍ型和二维超声心动图对左心室壁厚、左心室内径、室中隔厚等数据的测     

Change in M-mode echocardiographic values in cats given ketamine

Determination was made of changes in heart rate and certain M-mode echocardiographic values in healthy cats given ketamine (3 to 5 mg/kg, IM). Heart rate and septal and left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole increased, and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and shortening fraction decreased (P less than 0.02) after ketamine was given. With the adjustment for heart rate by analysis of covariance, left ventricular internal diameter in diastole, shortening fraction, and velocity of circumferential fiber shortening were significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) from base-line values.     

Pharmacokinetic study of sulfadimethoxine depletion in suckling and growing pigs.

Sulfadimethoxine was administered (IV) to suckling pigs (1 to 2 weeks old) and to growing pigs (11 to 12 weeks old) at a dosage of 55 mg/kg of body weight (single dose). Blood samples were collected over a 48-hour period, and the animals euthanatized were used for measurements of plasma and tissue concentrations of the drug. The blood data were described, using a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model. The blood concentration curves for the two groups of pigs had a consistent depletion pattern with greater than therapeutic concentrations (50 micrograms/ml) of the drug persisting through 12 hours after the drug was given. Sulfonamide blood concentrations were 4 and 11 times that of the method sensitivities in the older (growing) and younger (suckling) pigs, respectively, at 48 hours after treatment. In four of the five pharmacokinetic variables studied, a significantly higher (P less than 0.01) degree of efficiency was observed in the ability of the older pigs to eliminate the drug than in the younger pigs.     

Longitudinal study of hepatitis E virus infection in Spanish farrow-to-finish swine herds

Hepatitis E is a zoonotic disease and is highly prevalent in European swine livestock. There is a need to compare the infection dynamics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) between herds with the same production system and determine the percentage of animals that could arrive infected at slaughter age. Therefore, a longitudinal study was performed in six Spanish farrow-to-finish affected farms. Twenty piglets per farm were monitored from nursery to slaughter. RT-PCR and serology techniques were applied to analyze longitudinally collected sera and/or faecal samples. Liver and bile samples were also taken at the abattoir. Anti-HEV IgM were firstly detected at 7 weeks of age in 5 farms whereas at 13 weeks of age in 1 farm (farm 2). At slaughter age 50–100% of pigs had seroconverted to anti-HEV IgG in the former 5 farms whereas in the other herd only 5% of pigs were IgG seropositive (farm 2). Six out of 96 livers and 5 out of 80 biles analyzed were HEV positive at the abattoir (total percentage of infected animals: 11.5%). All these positive animals had already seroconverted except 2 pigs of farm 2. Hence, pigs can be seronegative at slaughter age being infected during the latest fattening period. Manipulation of HEV-infected livers or other organs from pigs could be considered a possible route of transmission in Spanish abattoirs. This study represents the first longitudinal survey on swine HEV infection dynamics conducted in different herds.     

Allometric scaling of M-mode cardiac measurements in normal adult dogs

Indices for M-mode measurements in dogs usually have been based on the assumption that a linear relationship exists between these measurements and body weight (BW) or body surface area (BSA). The relationships between the geometry of 3-dimensional objects do not support this assumption. The purposes of this study were to retrospectively examine M-mode data from a large number of dogs of varying sizes and breeds that were examined by a large number of ultrasonographers, to use the allometric equation to determine the appropriate BW exponent required to predict these cardiac dimensions, and to determine normal mean values and prediction intervals for common M-mode variables. Linear regression analyses of data from 494 dogs (2.2-95 kg) revealed a good correlation between M-mode measurements and BW after logarithmic transformation of the data (r2 = .55-.88). Most variables were most closely related to an index of body length, BW(1/3), although the exponent that best predicted diastolic and systolic left ventricular wall thicknesses was closer to 0.25. No variable indexed well to BW or BSA. With these data, appropriate mean values and prediction intervals were calculated for normal dogs, allowing veterinarians to correctly and appropriately index M-mode values. The equations developed from this study appear to be applicable to adult dogs of most breeds.     

甜高粱在青海高原种植的初步研究

为探讨甜高粱(Sorghum bicolor)在青海作为饲料作物种植的可能性,在青海高原上做了初步试验,结果显示：密度对茎秆高度、茎粗、产量有显著影响,对生育期、单株质量影响不显著,株行距为0.40 m0.20 m时,产量最高;浇水次数对甜高粱的生育期、茎秆高度、茎粗、单株质量、产量没有显著影响,表明甜高粱对水分依赖不高,具有很强的耐旱和抗旱性;地膜对甜高粱有极显著影响,使其生育期提前,茎秆高度增高,单株质量增加、产量提高;糖分含量在开花－收获期为15.93%～16.67%,比不盖地膜增加了29.19%～47.98%;大田示范密度0.50 m0.20 m,开花－收获期666.7 m2产量达4 890.8 kg,投入产出比为1∶1.78,效益显著。研究表明,在青海高原东部农业区盖地膜种植饲用甜高粱,用作饲料是完全可行的。